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Portrait from the John F. Kennedy Hall, Fort Bragg, North Carolina |
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Sergeant First Class Zabitosky's long range recon patrol was operating deep within enemy-controlled territory when they were attacked by a numerically superior NVA unit. He deployed them into defensive positions and directed their return fire, and then ordered them to move to a landing zone for helicopter extraction while he covered their withdrawal. Rejoining the patrol under increasing enemy pressure, he positioned each man in a perimeter defense and moved from man to man, encouraging and controlling their defensive fire. As the rescue helicopters arrived the enemy pressed their attack and SFC Zabitosky repeatedly exposed himself to their fire to adjust helicopter gunship fire around the landing zone. After boarding one of the helicopters, it was engulfed in a hail of bullets and SFC Zabitosky was thrown from it as it spun out of control and crashed. Recovering consciousness, he moved to the flaming wreckage and pulled the severely wounded pilot from the blaze and made repeated attempts to rescue his patrol members but was driven back by the intense heat. Despite his serious burns and crushed ribs, he carried and dragged the unconscious pilot through a curtain of enemy fire to within ten feet of a hovering rescue helicopter before collapsing. |
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